A meeting of the Village of Riverlea Planning Commission was held October 9, 2023 at 230 W Riverglen Dr. Members present were Christopher Bedell, Paul Collini, Rich Skowronski, and Jennifer Bedell. Skowronski served as Planning Commissioner. Also present were Scott Siemens and Jeff and Diane Amick The acting Planning Commissioner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

  1. The minutes of the regular Planning Commission meeting of August 14, 2023 were not read since each member had received a copy. The Planning Commissioner recommended that a line be added to section 2 of the minutes stating that Zipfel toured the site of the fence application after the meeting and approved the certificate. Skowronski moved and Bedell seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk with the above edit. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bedell, Collini, Jacob, and Skowronski; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.
  2. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance by Jeff & Diane Amick at 225 W Riverglen Dr to construct a cedar fence at the rear of the yard. The variance is being requested due to Riverlea’s ordinances against fence heights above 48” along the side of a property due to the location of this house on a corner lot. The reason for the requested height is privacy, given the proximity of the back of the house to the side of the neighbors’ house. The proposed design is to be solid cedar for the first five ft of height, with spaces along the top of the fence. The fence is to start at the end of the current fence and go south toward Falmouth Ct and stop at the second arborvitae in the yard.

Neighbors Scott and Eleanor Siemens expressed written and oral support for the construction of the fence at this height for privacy. Collini stated that he felt that a variance would not be needed for the property because the fence is at the rear of the house, though it is on a corner lot, which puts the fence along the side yard of the neighboring house. Zipfel moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness and variance for the fence as submitted and Collini seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bedell, Collini, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

  1. An application for a Certificate of Appropriateness by Scott & Eleanor Siemens at 5848 Falmouth Ct to widen the existing rear patio, install a walkway between the yard and patio, and cover the existing patio steps. The work was already complete as the homeowners were unaware of the requirement to submit an application for this. The patio and walkway were constructed of pavers and a French drain was added to improve drainage in the yard. Based on estimated measurements conducted at the meeting, the lot coverage for the property after the improvements is 42%, which is above the limit designated by Village code. The committee requested that Scott Siemens conduct a more precise lot coverage calculation before final approval. Bedell moved to table this application pending more precise lot coverage numbers and Zipfel seconded this motion. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea: 4, Bedell, Collini, Skowronski, and Zipfel; Nay: 0; Abstain: None. The motion carried 4-0.

 

Collini moved and Bedell seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0). The meeting was adjourned at 7:26  p.m.

 

Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner

Josh Mehling, Clerk